The Penn's Grove record., 1887-05-28

and the time OF your giving lntoTma-
ton to the police" observed Mr..
Gimblet, musingly.
t'That may be. l presume these
questions have reference to a desire on
FOUR part to assist in apprehending my
late partner" said Mr.. Want, drawing
himself up.
"Most certainly. Considering that
he has robbed and ruined you, no one
in his senses would imagine you desired
to assist his escape" said Mr.. Gimblet
with an innocent air.
"My dear sir, IL am a Christian, a
protesting Christian certainly, and ]
hope a sincere one. at the same time,
/ cannot help feeling yindictive toward
my late partner. AS you say, he has
robbed and ruined me. When 1 think
of the misery and suffering he has
wrought"
"What do the police say, sirp" said
Mr.. Gimblet, interrupted Mr.. Wants
remarks with scant courtesy.
"Well, they have no clue at present,
but they are hopeful" answered Mr..
Want. II am sure they would be
grateful for any suggestion you could
make to them"
"No they wouldn't, because l might
tell them that they are on the wrong
scent altogether" said Mr.. Gimblet,
looking his companion straight in the
face. However" feigning not to
notice Mr.. Wants start and look of
confusion. 81 never interfere in what
doesn't concern me. The police can
go their way, and l will go mine"
"You are exceeding kind" returned
Mr., Want, evidently striving to appear
cordial, ITO interest yourself about the
matter.o
"Don't mention it, SIR" said Mr..
Gimblet, taking up his hat; "you see
short of it. I've not lost much, it's
the having been swindled that rifles
me. should like to be even with Mr..
S.owbody."
"You are not singular in that desire.
Mr.. Glmblet," said Mr.. Want, extend
ing his hand. Anything you have to
suggest shall receive the most careful
attention"
Mr., Gimblet wendell his way home
ward in a very thoughtful frame of
mind after this interview. The fact
was that he felt completely mystifed
by Mr.. Wants behavior. While that
gentleman was making his statement
to his creditors, the ~ex-deteetive had
been struck by a sudden suspicion that
he RAJ acting a part. The idea came
to him with the force and ~suddenness
which he had learned from experience
to associate with a happy inspiration.
The great secret of Mr.. Gimbiet's sue
cess in his peculiar line of business was
a singular knack Of forming a correct
conclusion without the process Of rea
soning, He was by no means wanting
in logical perception, but he was fire.
quently aided in his Investigations by a
sort of intuition which put HIM on the
right track when others were yain]y
cropping In the dark. He had instinct
lively mistrusted MIR. Want from the
moment he commenced his speech, and
when the proceedings terminated he
felt impelled to engage HIM in CONVEX
sation in order to gauge his character.
He had no difficulty in this, for Mr..
Wants demeanor had not been calcu-
lated to inspire confidence. In fact,
MIR. Gimblet had a very strong impress
sion that, in spite of direct evidence to
the contrary, the gentleman was no
more entitled to sympathy than his
d~efaultiLg partner.
When he came to consider the de-
tails, however, Mr.. Gimblet was in
cllned to mistrust his opinion. 1t was
quite clear that Mr.. Slowbody had de-
camped, as alleged, and had involved
his partner in ruin. The report of the
accountants, a firm of high standing,
proved indisputably not only that MI.
Slowbody had robbed his clients, but
also that he had pledged property be-
longing TO Mr.. Want, besides sppropri-
ating the whole Of their joint capital.
The statement of affairs disclosed the
most shameful frauds or the part of
Mr.. Slowbody, in none OF which was
there the slightest evidence to show
that Mr.. Want had been implicated.s In
fact, the surrounding circumstances all
pointed to the innocence of the senior
partner, and no shadow of suspicion ap-
peared to rest upon him. But when MI.
Gimblet was seized with an idea, he did
easily suffer himself to be disconnected
by adverse facts. Consequently, when
he reached his dingy Office, he said to
one of his assistants:
''Grainger. you live at Chaplain,
don't youY',
"Yes, SIR"
81 want you to make a few inquiries
about a Mr.. Want" said Mr.. Gimblet,
thoughtfulIy drawing crosses with his
pen on his plotting pad.
''Is that the gentleman who has been
swindled by his partnerr"
Eyes. The matter doesn't press at
all; any time will do. just find out
when be left Biarritz, and what day he
received in Paris the news of his part
ner's disappearance. You may be able
to get it from one Of the servants"
After this Mr.. Gimblet dismissed the
subject from his mind for several days,
having more important business on
hand. He learned from the newspapers
that no clue had been obtained as to
the whereabouts Of the defaulting
partner, and 1t seemed pretty certain
that he had made good his escape. At
length bis subordinate reminded him
Oh Lu6 mlooiUu uC udu AheA uotOu W ullu.
swell, what have you ascertainedPn
81 made the acquaintance of the
gentleman's valet, sir, who accom-
panied the family to Biarritz."
"Yes."
EVERY one in Clapham sympathizes
very much with Mr.. Want. The house
and furniture are to be sold, and the
servants have all received notice.
"Of course said Mr.. Gimblet, i'm
patiently.
THE family stayed at Biarritz nearly
two months, at the Hotel d'Angleterre.
They left on the Goth of January and
went to Paris. The letter followed
him there, forwarded with other letters
from Biarritz some days later"
"Yes?"
1.-THE valet was in the room when
the letter arrived. OF course. the valet
did not know what had happened at the
time, but he guessed there was some
thing wrong by the way Mr.. Want
abused HIM for picking up the envelope
from the fioor.o
"Ohl How was that?" inquired Mr..
,zimhlat with sndden i~nfarasf-